Friday, September 18, 2015

Over the past few years, the Emmy Awards have become my Oscars. I'm far more invested in TV shows than I am with movies these days.

This year's Emmys feature some really exciting nominations (among a few glaring omissions). I thought it'd be fun to put together a predictions list. I'm going for a mix of who I'm personally rooting for along with who I think will win. The awards will be hosted by Andy Samberg of SNL and Brooklyn Nine Nine fame, and most importantly, from my favorite Big Dumb Comedy of the last decade Hot Rod!The Emmys air this Sunday night 9/20 on FOX. I'll be tweeting using the #Emmys tag on twitter.OK, let's do this:

My vote:Parks & Recreation. It was one of my favorites. The whole cast is so good, I'd have a new favorite every week.

Who I think will win: Veep. Someone has to upset Modern Family after all these years! I'm betting on Veep given all its other nominations. And though critically praised, have enough people seen the Amazon streaming series Transparent?

My vote:Louis C.K. Admittedly, I've only regularly watched The Last Man on Earth. I loved Will Forte on SNL, but I'm back-and-forth on his Fox show. I would give this to Louie because he's so central to his own show, and his take on humor is unlike anything else (IMO) going on in TV right now.

My vote: Let's take a moment to appreciate this list. Every single actor here is good, Viola Davis is good in everything, but her current show is sort of ridiculous. Claire is fascinating, but Homeland is depressing. Taraji was great on Person of Interest and she makes Empire. Tatiana is PHENOMENAL at playing different clones of main character. And Elisabeth Moss was the corner we could latch onto in Mad Men with the reasonable and often-trampled upon Peggy Olson. Any of them win, I am cool with that outcome. I vote we give each of them an Emmy! Ok, do I really have to choose? I'm so torn. Agh! OK. Tatiana Maslany TIED with Elisabeth Moss.

Who I think will win:Viola Davis or a Mad Men legacy win for Elisabeth Moss. Don't count out Taraji Henson.

My vote: I didn't watch any of these (sadly, Wolf Hall deleted during the second great DVR crisis of 2015).

Who I think will win: Give this to David Oyelowo for his Oscar snub this year in Selma!

Outstanding Reality Show Competition

The Amazing RaceDancing with the StarsProject RunwaySo You Think You Can DanceTop ChefThe Voice

My vote: I love Project Runway, but over the years it's become more of a commercial and gameshow than about real fashion. Top Chef also suffers from sponsor gimmick overload.I like The Voice, but overall SoYou Think You Can Dance is the most inspiring and still fresh with talent.

Who I think will win:The Voice

Outstanding Reality Show Host

Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the StarsJane Lynch, Hollywood Game NightHeidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project RunwayCat Deeley, So You Think You Can DanceAnthony Bourdain, The Taste

My vote:Cat Deeley!

Who I think will win:Jane Lynch has a strong chance because she's relatable and funny.

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

The Colbert ReportThe Daily ShowJimmy Kimmel Live!Last Week Tonight with John OliverLate Show with David LettermanThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

My vote:The Colbert Report

Who I think will win: All eyes on this category! With Colbert, Daily Show, and Letterman ending this year, all three are contenders. Oh, and John Oliver who (IMO) was the best fit to take over The Daily Show had they jumped on that sooner. Given Colbert took over for Letterman, he has more opportunities ahead. I think this leaves a legacy win for either Jon Stewart or David Letterman. In the end, going with Jon Stewart.

My vote:Key & Peele. Especially if Key doesn't win himself; the show overall deserves this for being so consistently funny, and managing cultural commentary that was spot on whether it's about racial profiling or the petty and selfie-obsessed. Also: Terries gettin' froggy.

Who I think will win: I'd be cool with any of these but SNL winning. SNL is just too uneven and often doesn't know how to showcase their best talent. Everything else on this list is doing something unique and different. Overall though, Key & Peele better get this.

My vote: I'm a TV nerd going back a ways. David Nutter is an X-Files longtimer. At the same time, I didn't 100% love that GoT episode, though I can appreciate the challenges in directing with such a huge cast and a naked lady getting poo thrown at her (yes, really).

Who I think will win: David Nutter, Mother's Mercy, Game of Thrones

That about covers it! Many other categories have already received trophies during the Creative Arts Emmys.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Happy (almost) Fall! Hey, it's September and school has started for pretty much everyone (if you're that lucky--yes, lucky because I love school). Taking a look at my happily crowded bookshelves the other day, I realized I needed to take action. I'm cut off from the library (except audio books).

I freely admit, I stole this idea from my writer friend and fellow Pitch Wars mentor Valerie Cole, who created her own summer reading challenge to read books off her own shelves. I've amassed a number of books from conferences, book events, and trips to the bookstore. I really don't want to be that person who hoards books she doesn't read.

Here's my list of book categories to read through the end of 2015!

My Personal Fall Reading Challenge

A book you really want to read

Something short

Something new

A book you've had for a long time

Finish a series

A friend-recommended book

A non-fiction title

A book by an author I know or have met

An e-book

A book by an author I've been meaning to try

A book by a favorite author

A book by a celebrity or public figure

A holiday or seasonal book

Feel free to use this list or a variation for your own reading challenge. Let me know if you do and link your post here!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

The first Wednesday of every month is officiallyInsecure Writer’s Support Groupday. Purpose:To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Click here and visit a few IWSG blogs!

Welcome Pitch Wars people! I've been talking up the IWSG to Pitch Wars contest hopefuls on twitter because this writer community is supportive and consistent. I hope more writers jump on the monthly blog hop and IWSG Facebook group.

So, last night in a video chat on the Whiskey, Wine, and Writing video chat show (which is weekly on Mondays about writing topics!) the Pitch Wars crew revealed the 125 (!) writers chosen to pair with a more experienced writer to prepare manuscripts for an agent pitch round in November. Woohoo!!

Pitch Wars celebration is much like it is on Endor ... so many Ewoks!

This post is for those who aren't feeling so cheerful. Like any contest, for all the writers who got in, there are more who did not. It's easy to say keep going, or look how many entries there were (1500!) so statically.... or, don't be sad, there's always another contest, another manuscript, etc. It's easy to say all that when it's not your ninth manuscript that's going nowhere. Or if it's not the fifth contest entered that didn't lead to recognition. Easy to say if it isn't you feeling sad.I've seen writers comment openly on twitter that they want to give up. And like IWSG, the evolving Pitch Wars community is supportive, so many writers are rallying around them with encouragement to keep going, which is great and wonderful.A few things I want to pose:

It's okay to feel sad that you didn't get chosen for a contest (or to be sad about an agent rejection, editor rejection, or negative feedback on manuscript.) Give yourself permission to feel what you do. Don't feel pressure to artificially cheer up if you aren't ready.

If you're sad/mad/frustrated, take it offline. Vent to friends you know in real life, or find writers to talk to within a closed community and not a public forum. The Internet is forever.

Decide if you do really want to give up. No one can walk this road for you. Publishing is competitive and difficult, even after you get an agent. Even after a book deal. No one can decide if you should keep going except for yourself.

Reassess your goals. You can dream big always, but what can you do today to move forward with your writing? It could be reading a writing craft book, joining a writing community for support, or finding critique partners. Maybe it's to take a break and do something else.

Insecure Writers Group and Pitch Wars are ultimately about writers helping writers. Sometimes we'll be in the position to give support, and other times we need it.

Here's to September being the month of new goals and new opportunities! Please visit a few blogs linked above next to the IWSG photo.

Comments: what are your upcoming writing goals? What opportunities are you looking for? Do you know of a writer community you can share here that might benefit others?